Time for Congress to act is now

Published: Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 8:17 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 8:17 p.m.

To many along the Gulf Coast, the question is a no-brainer: Most of the money BP ends up paying in fines related to its 2010 catastrophic oil spill should go to help the states and communities most affected by the spill.

It is the kind of action that just makes sense, from both a fairness perspective and a legal perspective.

It is also an action that can enjoy some broad-based political support. The spill itself affected the Gulf states — Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The Restore Act has gotten all the affected states on board the political effort to get it passed.

In addition, because the money has not yet gone to the federal government or been budgeted, it is a bit easier to make the case for spending it the right way. If the same five states were to make the case that they deserve $5 billion to $20 billion out of existing federal coffers, the argument would be much tougher, as would the presumed opposition.

As it is, though, the time is right for action. The Restore Act has picked up bipartisan support in both the U.S. House and the Senate.

Unfortunately, that time might be running out.

The act is now part of the nation’s transportation bill, and although the Restore Act hasn’t drawn any organized opposition, it could fall victim to federal inaction on the larger transportation measure.

The House and Senate versions of the transportation bill are being debated, and a compromise should be in the works in the coming days. The danger, though, is that Congress will fail to pass it and that the Restore Act will go down with it.

That cannot happen.

The Restore Act represents an important part of the ongoing effort to recover from and move on from the 2010 oil spill.

The lingering effects — from oil that continues to lurk off our coast to national perceptions that continue to affect the national demand for Gulf seafood — are testament to the fact that the spill was not over the second the leaking pipe was sealed.

The damage done during and after the spill continue to affect the Gulf Coast, including the people and businesses that work so hard to deliver energy to the rest of the nation.

It is past time for the nation to adopt a common-sense approach to recovery that will lead the Gulf Coast out of the shadow of the spill and into a brighter future.

The Restore Act is our best hope at that. But without action, it will suffer the familiar fate of so many well-crafted, broadly supported, popular ideas that never came to fruition.

Congress must act on the Restore Act and the larger transportation bill, and it must act in the coming days to head off another needless delay in passage of this vital measure.

Get to work, Washington, and pass a bill that will give the Gulf Coast the tools it needs to continue its climb out of the spill’s aftermath.

Editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper, not of any individual.

<p>To many along the Gulf Coast, the question is a no-brainer: Most of the money BP ends up paying in fines related to its 2010 catastrophic oil spill should go to help the states and communities most affected by the spill.</p><p>It is the kind of action that just makes sense, from both a fairness perspective and a legal perspective.</p><p>It is also an action that can enjoy some broad-based political support. The spill itself affected the Gulf states — Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The Restore Act has gotten all the affected states on board the political effort to get it passed.</p><p>In addition, because the money has not yet gone to the federal government or been budgeted, it is a bit easier to make the case for spending it the right way. If the same five states were to make the case that they deserve $5 billion to $20 billion out of existing federal coffers, the argument would be much tougher, as would the presumed opposition.</p><p>As it is, though, the time is right for action. The Restore Act has picked up bipartisan support in both the U.S. House and the Senate.</p><p>Unfortunately, that time might be running out.</p><p>The act is now part of the nation's transportation bill, and although the Restore Act hasn't drawn any organized opposition, it could fall victim to federal inaction on the larger transportation measure.</p><p>The House and Senate versions of the transportation bill are being debated, and a compromise should be in the works in the coming days. The danger, though, is that Congress will fail to pass it and that the Restore Act will go down with it.</p><p>That cannot happen.</p><p>The Restore Act represents an important part of the ongoing effort to recover from and move on from the 2010 oil spill.</p><p>The lingering effects — from oil that continues to lurk off our coast to national perceptions that continue to affect the national demand for Gulf seafood — are testament to the fact that the spill was not over the second the leaking pipe was sealed.</p><p>The damage done during and after the spill continue to affect the Gulf Coast, including the people and businesses that work so hard to deliver energy to the rest of the nation.</p><p>It is past time for the nation to adopt a common-sense approach to recovery that will lead the Gulf Coast out of the shadow of the spill and into a brighter future.</p><p>The Restore Act is our best hope at that. But without action, it will suffer the familiar fate of so many well-crafted, broadly supported, popular ideas that never came to fruition.</p><p>Congress must act on the Restore Act and the larger transportation bill, and it must act in the coming days to head off another needless delay in passage of this vital measure.</p><p>Get to work, Washington, and pass a bill that will give the Gulf Coast the tools it needs to continue its climb out of the spill's aftermath.</p><p>Editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper, not of any individual.</p>